Benjamin f



No. 608,890. Patented Aug. 9, I898.

B. F. MORNINGSTAB. MEDICINE SPOON.

(Application filed Apr. 6, 1898.)

(N0 Model.)

$1 WM ZZZZ m5 Norms PETERS m. mum-Una, WASH-NGTDN. u c.

Nrrnn -TATFF a'rnn'r prion,

BENJAMIN F. MORNINGSTAR, OF NEFV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF ANDFREDERICK RECHT, OF SAME PLACE.

MEDICINE-SPOON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 608,890, dated August9, 1898. Application filed April 6, 1393. $erial No. 676,631, (Nomodel.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. MORNING- STAR, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city of New York, in the county and State of NewYork, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Medicine-Spoons, of which the following is a specificatiou.

The object of the invention is to provide a receptacle attached to abottle in such relation to the mouth of the latter as to be always inposition to receive its contents when the bottle is inclined to apouring angle, and also to allow the liquid thus received to be I 5conveniently taken i'rom the receptacle by the patient.

It consists of a weighted spoon-bowl maintained in the horizontalposition by gravity, suspended on trunnions between brackets extendingoutwardly from the neck of the bottle. In the most complete form thesuspending means and brackets are made in one and are detachable from"the bottle, being joined to the latter by a spring-clasp inclos- 2 5ing the neck.

The invention also consists in certain details of construction to behereinafter described.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show themanner in which I have carried out the invention.

Figure 1 is a side View showing the attachment in place on the neck of abottle. Fig. 2 is plan view showing the attachment alone. The remainingfigures show modifications. Fig. 3 is a side view. Fig. 4 is a planview. Fig. 5 is a side elevation showingthe brackets formed in one withthe bottle-neck. Fig. 6 shows still another mode of attachment and 0also a modified form of receptacle.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre- V sponding parts in all thefigures.

A is a bottle having a neck A and lip A of any ordinary form or style,and B is the 5 receptacle, provided with oppositely extendingprojections or trunnions .B,'received in eyes 0, formed in the outerends or brackets C of a wire support bent to the form shown and claspingthe bottle-neck by its spring force.

The support 0 is preferably formed of a single piece of suiiicicntlystrong and stiff wire, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) the ends 0 of which extendoutwardly and upwardly and form a fork or yoke inclosin g the rearportion of the swinging spoon B. The ends are brought together andjoined by'twisting at O and again expanded to form the two loops orwings O shaped to be sprung upon and partially inclose the bottle-neckand to afford consider- 6o able vertical hold thereon. The lower membersof the wings are joined by the semicircular portion 0 The outer ends oredges of the wings O are slightly flared to facilitate the entrance ofthe neck. 6

The receptacle B is preferably spoonshaped, as shown, properlyballasted, as at 13 to insure that the center of gravity shall lie in aline passing perpendicularly through the axial line of the trunnions B,and the cavity is so shaped that the liquid received does notappreciably change the location of such center. Its upper edge lies in ahorizontal plane,'wit-h the rear edge close to and a little below thebottle-lip, while the front edge or point is shaped to be convenientlyreceived in the mouth or allow the contents to be poured into a glass orcup.

Ihave shown the receptacle as provided with graduations to aid indetermining the exact quantity of liquid received from the bottle, andas the receptacle is preferably of glass the height of the level thereinmay be easily read. It may-be assumed that when quite full the quantityreceived equals a table- 8 5 spoonful, the upper mark corresponding to adessert-spoonful and the lower to a teaspoonful.

The device is intended to accompany modicinal preparations'put up inbottles, so as 0 to enable purchasers to take the required doses Withoutthe inconvenience of providing a spoon for the purpose, and has thisimportant advantage that the dose measured may be uniform and willconform to the measure,- ments understood by the physician and drug gistas comprising a tea, dessert, or table spoonful, which may or may not bethe ca pacity of the ordinary domestic spoon.

The operation of the invention will be readioo ily understood byreference to the drawings and a brief description will suffice. The dcvice being clamped upon the bottle-neck, the cork is removed and thebottle tilted toward the receptacle until the liquid flows over the lipin a small stream, filling the spoon to the graduation desired. Thebottle is 'then returned to the upright position and the cork replaced.The spoon is then placed to the lips and the contents taken. It will beobserved that the spoon hangs always in position to receive the liquidfrom the first flow until the bottle is completely inverted and the lastdrops escape.

By reason of the overhang of the spoonpoint medicine may be readilytaken therefrom by the patient while recumbent, and he is thus able tohelp himself without changing his position. The device also affordsmeans whereby a person having the use of one arm only may accuratelymeasure and conveniently take the medicine or other contents of thebottle.

The arms 0 may be sprung apart and the receptacle then removed forcleaning when desired and again replaced, or, as shown in Fig. 1, theeye 0 may be formed open at c to allow the sides of the eye to separateslightly in receiving or releasing the trunnion. The device is simpleand is easily and cheaply manufactured. The spoon and its holder may besold as part of the bottle, attached or ready to be attached thereto, orsold separately to be attached by the purchaser to any bottle he maydesire.

Modifications maybe made in the materials employed and in the forms andproportions within wide limits without departing from the principle ofthe invention or sacrificing its advantages. 4

I have in this description referred to the receptacle as a spoon, andthat form is preferred but it will be understood that the shape and sizemay be varied indefinitely, it being essential only that the center ofgravity lie below the line of suspension. In Fig. 6 the receptacle isrepresented as a small tumbler or glass supported in a ring carried bytrunnions in eyes formed in the bracket ends.

The brackets and clasps may be also varied. Fig. 3 shows a form in whichthe whole is stamped or cut by dies from a flat sheet of metal, theseveral arms being subsequently twisted to lie in the proper relativeplanes.

In Fig. 5 the brackets are of the same material as the bottle and areformed in one therewith. The trunnions are received in recesses on theinner faces, which recesses are preferably tortuous,as indicated,toenable the spoon to be removed and replaced at pleasure, but to hold itagainst accidental displacement.

The modification in Fig. 6 shows a clasp and bracket formed of two flatpieces joined by a single rivet. The dotted lines indicate a doubleconstruction, in which two receptacles are supported on opposite sidesof the bottleneck. The trunnions in all cases may be formed on thereceptacle, as shown, or formed on the brackets and received incorresponding cavities provided on the spoon.

I claim- 1. A pair of brackets extending outwardly from the bottle-neck,and a receptacle suspended above its center of gravity between suchbrackets with liberty to turn therein and adapted automatically tomaintain a horizontal position by its gravity as the bottle is inclined,the said receptacle mounted in such relation to the bottle-mouth as toreceive liquid therefrom when the bottle is inclined in the act ofpouring, all combined and arranged to serve substantially as and for thepurposes herein specified.

2. An attachment for bottles consisting of a spring-clasp adapted toreceive and be held upon a bottle-neck, brackets extending outwardlyfrom said clasp, and a receptacle pivotally mounted between saidbrackets above its center of gravity with liberty to turn on ahorizontal axis and adapted automatically to maintain its level by itsgravity, all combined and adapted to serve with a bottle substantiallyas and for the purposes herein specified.

The support 0 formed of a single piece of wire and consisting of thebrackets 0 eyes 0, and wings O in combination with a weighted receptacleB,and trunnions B thereon received in said eyes, the said receptacleadapted to maintain automatically a horizontal position by its gravity,all arranged to serve with a bottle, substantially as and for thepurposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. MORNINGSTAR.

lVitnesses:

FREDERICK Rucrrr,

CHARLES R. SEARLE.

IOC

